Luxembourg, Luxembourg. The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU advanced key transport and maritime files at a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, where ministers adopted conclusions on European shipping and ports and discussed cleaner mobility, supply chain resilience and transport decarbonisation beyond 2030.
Council meeting and leadership
The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, in its transport formation, was held on June 8, 2026, and was chaired by Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades and Deputy Shipping Minister Marina Hadjimanolis.
At the end of the Council, Vafeades, Hadjimanolis and European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas presented the results of the meeting, which centred on Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy across transport and maritime policy.
Cyprus Presidency priorities
For the Cyprus Presidency, the meeting brought together several priorities pursued over the past six months, including clean mobility, connectivity, the resilience of transport networks, the strategic role of ports and the future of Europe’s maritime industrial base.
Hadjimanolis initially co-chaired, together with Vafeades, the discussion on the decarbonisation of the transport sector after 2030, which focused on the revision of three key regulations for transport.
These included the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, EU legislation aimed at promoting the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in shipping.
Focus on shipping and resilience
On maritime issues, Hadjimanolis placed emphasis on Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, sustainability and strategic autonomy in shipping.
She said recent months had shown again that, in an environment of geopolitical uncertainty and pressure on global supply chains, a strong merchant fleet is essential for Europe’s security, prosperity and economic resilience.
Adoption of maritime strategy conclusions
Under the chairmanship of the Deputy Shipping Minister, member states subsequently adopted the Council conclusions on the European Maritime Industrial Strategy, following the related proposal presented by the European Commission earlier in the semester.
“This Strategy has been a key priority of the Cyprus Presidency and we are proud to have successfully promoted this important dossier, which ensures quality jobs, strengthens the resilience of supply chains, safeguards economic security and maintains Europe’s leadership in a sector that is vital for our future,” Hadjimanolis said.